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NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Highlights of the visit of the PM of Spain, Pedro Sanchez to India: 28-29 October 2024
At the invitation of Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India, Pedro Sánchez, PM of Spain, along with his spouse Begona Gomez, visited India from 28th to 29th October 2024.
- PM Modi and Spain PM Pedro Sánchez, discussed a range of bilateral issues during delegation-level talks held at the Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara, Gujarat.
i.India & Spain signed several MoUs related to rail transport, customs, finance mechanisms for investment, and cultural exchanges.
ii.Spain’s PM Pedro Sanchez inaugurated the fourth Spain-India Forum in Mumbai, Maharashtra on 29th October 2024. The theme of the 4th Spain-India forum was “Spain-India Partnership amid Geopolitical and Technological Challenges: New Horizons, New Possibilities.”
About Spain:
Prime Minister (PM) – Pedro Sánchez
Capital – Madrid
Currency – Euro
>> Read Full News
RPF and MoWCD Launched Revised SOP for the Protection of Vulnerable Children
On 25th October 2024, Railway Protection Force (RPF), Ministry of Railways in partnership with the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), has launched revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), a major initiative to protect vulnerable children found on railway premises nationwide, during an event held at Rail Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi.
- This comprehensive SOP lays out a robust framework for protecting children who come into contact with Indian Railways.
- This revised SOP reinforces MoR’s commitment to prevent child exploitation and trafficking by providing a safety net to these vulnerable children.
i.During the event, Indian Railways and MoWCD has also announced expansion of Child Help Desks (CHDs) at major railway stations, aimed at strengthening the support network available to children in need.
ii.RPF emphasized on the importance of reinforcing Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) and urged states such as: Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh (MP) to establish these units at their respective railway stations to prevent trafficking and improve passenger safety.
About Railways Protection Force (RPF):
It is the armed force which works under the MoR. It was established as a statutory body under the RPF Act, 1957, to protect the security and property of railway passengers and areas.
Director General (DG)- Manoj Yadava
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
>> Read Full News
Growth in Person Days in MGNREGA : 1660 Crore (FY07-FY14) to 2923 Crore (FY15-25)
As per the data by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Rural employment under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (MGNREGA) has increased in the last 10 years. From the Financial Year 2006-07(FY07) to FY14, a total of 1,660 crore person-days were generated. In contrast, between FY15 and FY25, the total person-days increased significantly to 2,923 crore.
- This represents an increase of approximately 76.1% in person-days generated over the two periods.
Key Points:
i.The MoRD also informed that Adhaar seeding has been done for around 13 crore active workers, which is 99.3% of total active workers. It enabled to minimise the rejection of transactions due to the frequent changing of accounts.
ii.The budget allocation for MGNREGA has also increased to 86,000 crore during FY 2024-25 budget allocation from Rs 33,000 crore during FY 2013-14.
- The minimum average notified wage rate has increased by 7% in FY25
iii.As per NREGASoft, in FY 2023-24, a total of 102.20 lakh job cards were deleted by states/UTs, whereas in FY 2024-25 (as of October 26, 2024), the number of deletions has dropped to 32.28 lakh.
iv.Regarding attendance, for FY 2024-25, 95.66% of worksites (20.35 lakh) have successfully uploaded their attendance data to the portal. In cases of exceptional circumstances where attendance could not be uploaded, District Programme Coordinators (DPCs) have been authorized to approve manual attendance.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
India Ranked 79 among 142 Countries in the WJP Rule of Law Index 2024; Denmark topped
On 23rd October 2024, Washington D.C. (the United States of America, USA)-based think tank World Justice Project (WJP) released the report titled “WJP Rule of Law Index 2024”. India has been ranked at 79th position among 142 countries in the index with an overall rule of law score of 0.50 increased by 0.8% compared to last year’s score.
- According to the index, the rule of law has declined for the 7th consecutive year in a majority of countries (57%) while 43% of countries surveyed have experienced improvement in the rule of law.
i.Denmark topped the index with an overall score of 0.90, followed by Norway (0.89) and Finland (0.87) ranked at 2nd and 3rd position, respectively.
ii.Venezuela ranked at 142nd position in the index with lowest score of 0.26, followed by Cambodia (0.31), Afghanistan (0.32) Haiti (0.33), and Myanmar (0.34) ranked at 141st , 140th , 139th and 138th position, respectively.
About World Justice Project (WJP):
Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- William H. Neukom
Headquarters- Washington D.C., the United States of America (USA)
Founded – 2006
>> Read Full News
27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Apia, Samoa 
The 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2024) or the Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations was held in Apia, Samoa from 24th to 26th October 2024. Samoa hosted the meeting with support from Australia. The theme of CHOGM 2024 is ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth’.
- 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the Commonwealth and this marks the first CHOGM held in a Pacific island country. This also marks His Majesty King Charles III’s first CHOGM as Head of the Commonwealth.
i.The Indian delegation was led by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs(MoPA), Government of India(GoI) participated in the Executive Session of CHOGM 2024.
ii.Commonwealth countries adopted their 1st ocean declaration during the summit as calls from some of Britain’s former colonies for reparatory justice for the trans-Atlantic slave trade grew louder.
About Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA):
It was previously known as the Empire Parliamentary Association.
Secretary-General – Stephen Twigg
Headquarters – London, the United Kingdom(UK)
Founded – 1911
>> Read Full News
BANKING & FINANCE
SEBI Allowed Indian MFs to Invest in Overseas Funds with Exposure to Indian Securities
On 4th November 2024, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has allowed the Indian Mutual Funds (MFs) to invest in overseas MFs or Unit Trusts (UTs) that invest a specific portion of their assets in Indian securities, which is subject to the condition that the total exposure to Indian securities by these overseas MF/UTs shall not exceed 25% of their net assets.
- The move is aimed to facilitate ease of investment in overseas MF/UTs, which will bring transparency in the manner of investment, and also enable the MFs to diversify their overseas investments.
- This direction was introduced by SEBI through a circular issued in exercise of powers given under Section 11(1) of SEBI Act, 1992, read with the provisions of Regulation 43(1) and Regulation 77 of SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996.
- The provisions of the new framework will come into force with immediate effect.
Key Features:
i.Single Investment Vehicle: As per SEBI directions, the MF schemes are required to ensure that all investors’ contributions to an overseas MFs/UTs are combined into a single investment vehicle without any side vehicles.
ii.No Segregated Portfolios: SEBI has directed the overseas MFs to operate as a “blind pool” with no separate portfolios, ensuring all investors have equal and proportionate rights in the fund.
iii.Prohibition of Advisory Agreements: SEBI has prohibited any advisory agreements between Indian MFs and the underlying overseas MFs to prevent any potential conflicts of interest.
iv.Observance Time Period: Following the investment, if the exposure to Indian securities breaches the limit of 25%, then, an observance period of 6 months from the date of publicly available information of such breach would be granted to Indian MF schemes for monitoring any portfolio rebalancing activity by the underlying overseas MF/UT.
- During the observance period, the Indian MF schemes are not allowed to undertake any new investment in such overseas MF/UT and can resume their investments in such overseas MF/UT in case the exposure to Indian securities by such overseas MF/UT falls below the limit of 25%.
About Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI):
SEBI is the apex regulatory body for securities and commodity market in India. It was initially established as non-statutory body in April 1988. Later, SEBI was accorded the status of statutory body through SEBI Act, 1992 on 30th January, 1992.
Chairman- Madhabi Puri Buch
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
India-UAE Collaboration in Digital Payments, Trade,and JAYWAN Card Launch
India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have strengthened their strategic partnership through several initiatives to boost economic, financial, and technological ties.
- Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) highlighted ongoing efforts to link India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the UAE’s Arabian Automated Network for Instant Payments(ANNI) payment system during a press conference following the 12th meeting of the India-UAE High-Level Joint Task Force on Investment (HLJTFI) in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- AANI is powered by Al Etihad Payments(AEP), a subsidiary of the Central Bank of the UAE(CBUAE) .
- This move will enable more than 3 million Indians living in the UAE to conduct cross-border transactions more seamlessly.
Key Highlights:
i.The UAE has committed nearly USD 2 billion to establish food parks in India, aiming to bolster food security for the UAE while creating jobs for Indian farmers.
ii.Following the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), trade between India and the UAE reached USD 84 billion in the 2023-24 Financial Year(FY), with a significant reduction in the trade deficit from USD 22 billion to USD 12 billion.
- Additionally, the UAE became India’s fourth-largest investor, with Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) commitments totaling USD 3.35 billion in 2023.
iii.Further initiatives include opening Invest India and UAE investment offices in each other’s countries, as well as developing Bharat Mart—a major retail and logistics hub spanning over 100,000 square metres (m2) in Dubai, UAE.
- Additionally, the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) is launching its first overseas campus in Dubai, UAE with plans to start training programs by early 2025.
JAYWAN Card Scheme:
In a collaborative effort, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based National Payments Corporation of India(NPCI ) through its international subsidiary NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Abu Dhabi (UAE) based Al Etihad Payments (AEP) launched the JAYWAN card scheme, introduced during Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s UAE visit in early 2024.
- This initiative builds on India’s RuPay card technology, widely deployed by NPCI in India, which has now been adapted and shared with the UAE.
- This launch also marks a milestone, as the UAE is the first country in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region to adopt the RuPay infrastructure.
About United Arab Emirates (UAE):
President: Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Prime minister (PM): Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Currency: UAE Dirham(AED)
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Income Disparity in India Declines by 74.2% Since FY14: SBI Study
A recent study by the State Bank of India’s (SBI) Economic Department, Ecowrap, in its report titled ‘How Tax Simplification has given a necessary fillip to ITR Filing’, reveals treveals a significant 74.2% in India between reduced by 74.2% between fiscal years 2013-14 (FY14)/Assessment Year (AY15) and 2022-23 (FY23)/AY24, especially among individuals earning up to Rs 5 lakh annually.
- The report highlights that income distribution has become more equitable, with lower-income groups seeing higher income growth.
Highlights:
i.The share of individuals earning up to Rs 3.5 lakh annually in income disparity dropped from 31.8% in FY14 to 12.8% in FY21, marking a 19% improvement relative to their population share.
ii.Lower income groups (under Rs 5.5 lakh) saw consistent income growth over the past decade, except in AY20 due to the pandemic.
iii.Traditional income tax base states such as Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, and Karnataka are nearing saturation in ITR (Income Tax Return) filings, while states like Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar, Andhra Pradesh (AP), Punjab, and Rajasthan are increasing their tax base.
iv.Direct tax contribution to total tax revenue rose to 56.7% in AY24, the highest in 14 years, and the direct tax-to-GDP (Gross Domestic Product) ratio reached 6.64%, the highest since 2000-01.
v.The number of ITRs filed surged to 8.6 crore in AY24, up from 7.3 crore in AY22, with 79% of returns filed on time, reducing penalties from 60% in AY20 to 21% in AY24.
S&P Global Market Intelligence : India’s GDP to grow at 6.8% in FY25 and 6.6% in FY26
The American credit rating agency S&P Global Market Intelligence released its ‘October Global Economic Forecast update’. As per the report, India’s economic growth is expected to stay strong, with forecasts of 6.8 % for the Financial Year 2024-25(FY 25) and 6.6 % for FY26.
- It underscores steady global economic growth driven by policy stimulus, while recognizing potential risks from geopolitical issues.
i.The report highlights moderating inflation and easing monetary policies as key factors steering the global economy towards a “soft landing.”
ii.The report projects Global annual real Gross Domestic Product(GDP) growth rate of 4.3 % for 2024 and 4.4 % for 2025 in the region, excluding China and Japan.
- The global economic outlook remains positive and risks persist
Rajasthan Govt Signs Initial Agreement with UAE for Rs 3 lakh cr Investment in Renewable Energy
The Rajasthan government has signed an initial agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for an investment of Rs 3 lakh crore in the renewable energy sector in Rajasthan.
- The agreement was signed by Mohammad Hassan Al Suwaidi, UAE’s Minister of Investment, and Ajitabh Sharma, Principal Secretary of the Industries Department of Rajasthan in the presence of Rajasthan Chief Minister (CM) Bhajan Lal Sharma.
i.The goal of this investment is to establish solar, wind, and hybrid projects with a combined capacity of 60 gigawatt (GW) in the western districts of Rajasthan.
ii.This Partnership will be a significant step in achieving the ambitious 500 GW of solar energy in the country.For this, Rajasthan will be required to install solar plants with a capacity of 250 GW.
Note: Rajasthan, which currently ranks first in renewable energy production in India, has developed an action plan to strengthen its power system and meet the growing electricity demand over the next 10 years.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Awarded Fiji’s Highest Civilian Honour
The Republic of Fiji (South Pacific nation) has conferred its highest civilian award, the ‘Honourary Officer of the Order of Fiji’, on Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the renowned spiritual leader, humanitarian and founder of The Art of Living Foundation.
- The award was presented by Fiji’s President, Ratu Wiliame M. Katonivere, in recognition of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s dedication to promoting peace and unity across the world.
- He is the sixth person to receive this prestigious award worldwide.
During his visit to Fiji, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar engaged with key Fijian leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka and United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Dirk Wagener.
About Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
i.He was Born on May 13, 1956, in Tamilnadu in India.The Art of Living Foundation, established by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in 1981, is a global non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to improving the quality of life for people worldwide.
ii.He became a disciple of his guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and developed his own meditation techniques, which form the core of his work today.
iii.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s tireless humanitarian efforts have earned him top civilian honors from several countries, reflecting his global influence.
Other Notable Awards :-
- He received India’s Second Highest Civilian Award in 2016.
- He was also the recipient of Colombia’s highest civilian award, “Orden de la Democracia Simón Bolívar” and Highest civilian award “National Order of Mérito de Comuneros”, Paraguay.
About Republic of Fiji:
Current President– Ratu Wiliame M. Katonivere
(Note – Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu to be the new president of Fiji in the mid of November 2024)
Prime minister (PM)- Sitiveni Rabuka
Capital-Suva
Currency-Fijian Dollar(FJD)
68th Ballon D’Or: Spain’s Rodri & Aitana Bonmatí won the men’s & women’s Ballon d’Or award 
The 68th edition of the Ballon D’Or (2024) award ceremony took place on 28th October 2024 at the Théâtre du Châtelet, in Paris, France.
- Manchester City and Spain’s midfielder Rodrigo Hernández Cascante (also known as Rodri) has won the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or or Golden Ball Award.
- Barcelona FC and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí Conca won the Women’s Ballon d’Or or Ballon d’Or Féminin Award for the second year in a row. She previously won the award in 2023.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Himanshu Pathak Appointed as Director-General Designate of ICRISAT
The Governing Board of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), chaired by Professor Prabhu Pingali ,announced the appointment of Himanshu Pathak as the Director-General(DG) Designate of ICRISAT. He is set to take charge as DG in 2025.
- Dr Stanford Blade is currently serving as the Director General – Interim of ICRISAT.
- The appointment was announced during an all-staff event at ICRISAT headquarters in Hyderabad, Telangana.
- Dr. Pathak is currently serving as the Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and DG of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
Note: ICRISAT marks its 52nd anniversary, emphasizing the Institute’s dedication to advancing agricultural innovations and solidifying its position as a global leader in dryland research.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Vajra Shot: India-Made Handheld Anti-Drone Gun with Range of 4 Km
The Vajra Shot, an innovative handheld anti-drone gun developed by Big Bang Boom Solutions, a technology startup based in Chennai(Tamil Nadu), India was showcased ‘Swavlamban 2024′ – Indian Navy’s Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) Seminar organized by the Indian Navy (IN) at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Delhi.
- It has been deployed in the Indian Army (IA) and the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Key Features:
i.The Vajra Shot can detect and jam drone signals at a distance of up to 4 kilometers(Km).
- It can be paired with a handheld drone detector to create the enhanced version known as the Vajra Super Shot, which integrates detection and jamming capabilities.
ii.Weighing only 3.5 kilograms(Kg), the gun is designed for portability and ease of use, allowing soldiers to carry it comfortably during missions.
iii.Unlike traditional jammers that operate on fixed frequencies, the Vajra Shot features software-defined capabilities that enable it to adapt its interference output frequency.
- This allows for effective neutralization of both standard and non-standard drones.
iv.It includes a simple LED (Light-emitting diode) display that provides real-time monitoring of the device’s operational status and interference duration.
v.The device boasts a long battery life, providing up to 9 hours of uninterrupted operation.
OBITUARY
‘Right to Privacy’ Petitioner Justice KS Puttaswamy Passes Away 
Justice KS Puttaswamy, former Judge of Karnataka high Court and the key petitioner in the “Right to Privacy” Matter, passed away at the age of 98. He was born in February 1926 in Kolar, Karnataka.
About Justice KS Puttaswamy:
i.He became an advocate in 1952 and became a judge in the Karnataka high court in 1977 and served there till his retirement in 1986.
ii.He was later appointed as the first vice chairperson of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Bengaluru(Karnataka).
iii.He also helmed the Backward Classes Commission of Andhra Pradesh(AP).
Petition of Right To privacy:
i.In 2012, Justice Puttaswamy moved the Supreme Court(SC) against the Aadhaar scheme of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
ii.In 2015, the SC, as a part of his petition against Aadhaar, decided to consider the larger issue of whether citizens have a fundamental right to privacy under the Constitution of India.
iii.On 24th August 2017, a 9-judge Constitution bench led by then Chief Justice JS Khehar, upheld the Aadhaar scheme and unanimously recognised privacy as a fundamental right.
Rights to Privacy:
i.The right to privacy is a fundamental right in India, protected under Article 21 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court ruled in 2017 that privacy is an essential aspect of personal liberty and dignity. The right to privacy includes:
ii.Personal information, Communication, Decisions, Movements, Personal choices, Partners, and Eating habits.
Fundamental Rights:
Article 12 to 35 contained in Part III of the Constitution deal with Fundamental Rights.
- These are: Right to equality, including equality before law, prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, and equality of opportunity in matters of employment.
IMPORTANT DAYS
International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict 2024 – November 6
The United Nations (UN)’s International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is annually observed across the globe on 6th November to raise awareness about the consequences that war and conflict have on the environment.
- 6th November 2024 marks the 23rd observance of the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict.
Background:
i.The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/56/4 on 5th November 2001 and declared the 6th November of every year as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict.
ii.The first International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is observed on 6th November 2001.
About the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP):
Executive Director– Inger Andersen
Headquarters – Nairobi, Kenya
Established – 1972
>> Read Full News
STATE NEWS
MISSION BASUNDHARA 3.0 Aims to Provide Land Rights to Indigenous People
Assam Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma launched Mission Basundhara 3.0 in Guwahati to provide land rights to indigenous people, digitize land-related services, and publish maps to benefit the state’s residents.
i.The CM also launched the Revenue Department’s Digidoc, a digital directory for non-registrable and optional registrable documents, aimed at streamlining services, reducing processing time, and enhancing public convenience, accessibility, and efficiency.
ii.Mission Basundhara 3.0 will be the final phase of the initiative, with no plans for a Mission Basundhara 4.0.
- Under Mission Basundhara 1.0 launched in 2021, Assam disposed of 8 lakh applications in 9 months
- The second edition Mission Basundhara 2.0 launched in 2022 granted land rights to over 2 lakh indigenous people within 1 year.
iii.Under this phase, members of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Adivasi communities, Tea Tribes, and Gorkhas will be recognized as “sons of the soil” and exempted from proving three-generation ancestry to obtain land rights.
iv.Premium rate has been reduced to 3% of zonal valuation for city dwellers.
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